Interesting fact: as far as I know, Trompe is the only Pixies album wih drop-D tuned songs (at least 4 as far as I know). Very Metal.

I'll always wonder why they dumped half of Trompe songs on their setlists since the reunion.

Besides the fact that it seems most or all of them do not have particularly fond memories of the actual process of writing and making that record (which can weigh much more heavily than their knowledge of some fans' love for the finished product), you may have answered your own question.

The drop-D tuned songs often necessitate keeping extra guitars around in that tuning just waiting to be swapped out onstage.

They may simply view the combination of bad memories of (and/or lack of a personal connection to) those tunes and the hassle of using an alternate tuning as too much hassle for too little enjoyment on their own part.

Peter (or anybody)

Besides Subbacultcha are any of the songs on Trompe older pieces that made it on to this album?

--

"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder

Not always. Sometimes they used guitars tuned a semi-step up so the songs were in the same key as the album. I noticed that on some videos (don't ask me which ones !). Including Memphis, Palace. I don't remember if Bird Dream was 1/2 step up, but it is also a Drop D.

I still bang my head against the wall from time to time about Bird Dream tuning. Sounds like DAEGBE on some shows. Haven't decided yet.

Sorry about the formatting of my question to you Peter. Still trying to figure out how this works

Subbacultcha was on the Purple Tape in 1987

And the removed chorus from "Subbacultcha" later appeared as the basis for "Distance Equals Rate Times Time"

--"Aristophanes! (gong sounds)"

I love details like this. Like how the basis of Wave of Mutilation (demo) on Doolittle 25 turned up in Adda Lee or how Tame and Planet of Sound were derived from different attributes of Joe Jackson's Mad At You.